Friday Links | July 27, 2012

SETimes reports that domestic violence in Kosovo remains a problem; most victims are married women suffering at the hands of their husbands.

Iranians, from inside and outside Iran, have started a facebook campaign called “No to Mandatory Hijab,” where both men and women post pictures of themselves supporting the right of women to chose whether or not they want to wear the hijab.

Refugee women in Somalia, fleeing hunger and/or violence, face now a sexual assault and rape in one of Mogadishu’s many refugee camps.

For Qantara.de, Gabriela Keseberg Dávalos reports on her recent stay in Saudi Arabia, and the “golden age for Saudi women.”

Morocco is one of the few countries on track to meet the UN goal of lowering the rate of maternal deaths.

Now that the UN and its NATO allies are planning to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by 2014, Afghan women’s shelters are concerned whether they can continue to provide a safe haven for Afghan women.

News about “forced conversions” in Pakistan has been on the rise. During a press conference, one girl claims that she converted to Islam out of free will and asks the government to protect her from her parents, who have registered a case against her and her new husband.

In August, Somalia will elect a new president; one presidential hopeful is a Somali exile living in Finland hoping to become the first female president of the country.

Authorities in Iran have announced plans to tackle prostitution within the country. It is very rare for Iranian government officials even to acknowledge the existence of prostitution.

An Afghan cleric has been arrested after he allegedly raped a 10-year-old school girl, who was his student in Islamic Studies.

Iranian president Ahmedinejad has been attacked after the decision of the government to fund a biopic on Laleh Seddigh, Iran’s first female motor racing champion.

Safia Banu has become Calcutta’s first Muslim marriage registrar; not only can she solemnise and register Muslim marriages, but she has the power to arbitrate in divorce cases too.

The abuse of codeine cough syrups is on the rise in Kano. Nigeria, especially among women, and it affects those from all walks of life.

A Jordanian man has been charged with killing his divorced sister, after she allegedly had indulged in “suspicious behaviour”.

In Olympics related news: In London an exhibition has been opened on Arab women in sports, featuring not only Olympians, but beginner athletes as well. Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi is a Malaysian shooter, and she will compete at the upcoming Olympics while being 8 months pregnant. One of the two Saudi athletes, judoka Wojdan Shaherkani has been banned to participate due to her hijab.